Osteospermum plant named ‘Oslawit’

ABSTRACT

A new  Osteospermum  plant particularly distinguished by its spreading character and large white flower heads.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Varietal denomination: ‘Oslawit’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis.

The new Osteospermum is propagated by cuttings resulting from an open pollinated population from a proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis seedling selection as the female, or seed, parent identified as breeder's code ‘E0156-1’ (unpatented). Breeder's code of new plant is ‘G0030-1.’

The new Osteospermum was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated population grown in Enkhuizen, Netherlands, in 2002. The new Osteospermum plant has been repeatably asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands over a period of 4 years. The new variety is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Osteospermum plant. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 28 week old plants. The instant plant was grown indoors in a 10.5 cm container and transplanted into the open field in week 20.

Plants of the cultivar ‘Oslawit’ have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length, and fertility level without, however, any variance in genotype.

Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, edition 2001.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from the plants of the female parent ‘E0156-1’ in the following characteristics:

Plants of the new Osteospermum have a better spreading performance and are better branching than plants of the female parent ‘E0156-1.’

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW CULTIVAR ‘OSLAWIT’ AND A SIMILAR CULTIVAR ‘Osnewi’ (U.S. Plant application ‘Oslawit’ Ser. No. 11/430,148) Plant height 28 cm 30 cm Plant width 65 cm 45 cm Plant habit Spreading Upright Flower size 5-6 cm 4.5-5.5 cm

-   The plant:     -   -   Classification.—Botanical: Osteospermum ecklonis. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary seedling selection ‘E0156-1.’         -   Male parent.—Female is open pollinated so male is unknown. -   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Spreading.         -   Plant height.—28 cm.         -   Spreading area of plant.—65 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderate growth.         -   Branching character.—Freely branching, 18 lateral branches             without pinching.         -   Blooming period.—From May until October. -   The stem:     -   -   Length.—55 cm.         -   Diameter.—3 mm.         -   Internode length.—5-10 mm.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—RHS 144B. -   The foliage:     -   -   Shape.—Single leaves, alternate and elliptic, apex: broadly             acute base: attenuate, margin: irregular serration.         -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—100.         -   Texture.—Glabrous, leathery.         -   Leaf.—Color — Upper side: RHS 137B. Color — Under side: RHS             137C. Length: Young 30-35 mm, mature 45-55 mm. Width: Young             4-6 mm, mature 12-16 mm.         -   Petiole.—Absent. -   The inflorescence:     -   -   Number of inflorescences per mature plant.—60.         -   Inflorescence bud.—Form: Ovoid. Length: 10-12 mm. Width:             6-10 mm. Color: RHS 151C.         -   Inflorescence lastingness on the plant.—Around 5 days             depending on the temperature.         -   Inflorescence.—Diameter: 50-60 mm. Disc diameter: 10 mm.         -   Inflorescence depth.—10 mm.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular, elongated. Apex: Five pointed.             Length: 6 mm. Width: 1 mm. Number of disc florets per             inflorescence: 55. Color: RHS 99B.         -   Ray florets.—Length: 32 mm. Width: 6 mm. Shape: Capitulum             with one series of ray florets. Color Upper surface: RHS             N155A. Lower surface: RHS 91A with stripes 86A. Number of             ray florets: 17-19. Shape: Elliptic: Apex: Rounded. Base:             Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Satiny.         -   Peduncles.—Length: 5-8 cm. Anthocyanins: Present. Texture:             Sturdy, tiny hairs. Color: RHS 144A. Anthocyanins: Present.             Diameter: 2 mm. Shape: Round.         -   Phyllaries.—Texture: Rough, tiny hairs. Number of             phyllaries: 14-16. Color: RHS 146A. Length: 10 mm. Margin:             Entire. Width: 1 mm. Apex: Acute. Shape: Ligulate. Color:             RHS 146B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Appearance: Present on disc florets only. Shape:             Oblong, five stamens fused to one. Length: 2 mm. Width:             1 mm. Pollen color: RHS 23A. Total no. of anthers: 60.         -   Gynoecium.—Appearance: Present on both ray and disc florets.             Pistil number: One pistil per ray or disc floret. Pistil             length: 4 mm. Stigma color: RHS N77A. Stigma shape:             Bipartite. Style color: N77A. -   Seed development: Seed development has been observed on plants of     the new Osteospermum.     -   -   Amount of seeds produced.—Moderate.         -   Seed length.—5 mm.         -   Diameter.—3 mm.         -   Color.—RHS 200A.         -   Shape.—Elliptic. -   Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, plants of the new     Osteospermum are resistant to fungal pathogens common to     Osteospermum. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Osteospermum plant, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 